Overview
- The death, which occurred on Sunday, Oct. 25, involved a 60-year-old man who was struck by a falling tree on a minor road near Mid Kelton in Dumfries and Galloway and was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The victim has been named as Richard Baines, curator of Logan Botanic Garden, and colleagues at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh paid public tribute to his 14 years of work and mentorship.
- Coverage and statements from RBGE credit Baines with projects including the UK’s first ‘all green’ public conservatory powered by green energy, an expanded plant collection and fieldwork that helped publish seven plant species new to science.
- Storm Boelo left widespread disruption across Scotland and northern England with recorded gusts up to about 85mph, major power outages and travel chaos, and other falling-tree incidents that caused additional deaths and injuries.
- Agencies have active flood and wind warnings and officials say they are monitoring further severe weather, with the next named storm on the list being Chloe if conditions intensify.